Dingle Elementary School was locked down briefly when Woodland police arrested a suspect in a stolen vehicle around 12:25 p.m.

According to Sgt. Darren Imus, the incident had its beginnings at 7:10 a.m., when police learned a 1994 Chevrolet Blazer had been stolen from a driveway in the 800 block of Cottonwood Street. Apparently, the owner of the vehicle had left it running unoccupied to warm up on the cold morning while he went back inside his home.

That's when 31-year-old Eduardo Chavez of Woodland, used the opportunity to steal the idling Blazer.

Officers responded to the area but did not locate the stolen vehicle or the suspect.

Then, around 12:20 p.m., a Woodland police officer saw the stolen vehicle traveling eastbound on Oak Avenue near Saunders Lane in the city's older central part of town.

The officer followed behind the vehicle while waiting for additional officers to assist. The Blazer turned southbound onto Elm Street from eastbound Oak Avenue and pulled over to the road's shoulder directly north of Dingle Elementary School.

The officer conducted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle, holding Chavez at gunpoint, and waited for responding officers.

In all, seven officers converged on the area.

At no time did anyone appear to be at risk, according to police. There was no high-speed pursuit, and Chavez did not resist arrest. Dingle Elementary School officials were also immediately notified of the situation and the school was briefly placed on lockdown until Chavez could be formally arrested and removed from the area.

Chavez was later booked into the Yolo County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, driving without a license, and for having an active no-bail warrant from the Yolo County Probation Department since he previously violated the terms of his release.

The Dingle campus was reopened after Chavez had been transported from the scene.

The school was on a brief lockdown in September following a gang-related stabbing outside the campus although no students were involved or in danger. Friends of Dingle Neighborhood Watch held a series of meetings regarding violence in Woodland.